THE World Gold Council (WGC) in its latest report titled The Role of Gold in India. found that the increasing independence of woman in developing countries and shifts in attitudes and behaviours, combined with a significant increase in their personal wealth, has meant that gold has become a more relevant and desirable product to a greater number of women.

This has increased the number of women falling into gold’s core target group in India from 25 million in 2002 to 32 million in 2005 and contributing to the rise in gold purchases over the past few years.

The report also pointed out that the wedding seasons in India, which fall between October and January, and April and May, accounts for a significant portion of the demand for gold in the country.